To V. A. Tikhonov, 8 December 1891. Moscow.

Written 8 December 1891 from Moscow to Vladimir Alexeyevich Tikhonov (1857–1914), the playwright, prose writer, and editor of Sever with whom Chekhov carried on a long, jocular correspondence.

Chekhov chases up a story he sent Tikhonov ten days earlier, on 30 November, and has heard nothing back about – asking whether it arrived, whether it is any good, and whether Tikhonov will send proofs. He reminds Tikhonov that he had asked for an advance against the story and, recalling that Tikhonov once mentioned money could be had "in advance too," presses the point: he is entirely without funds, needs to travel to Petersburg, and cannot even afford the fare. He asks after Tikhonov and the subscription numbers for Sever, notes it is being well advertised, and reports that Moscow has no news – he has been housebound recovering from influenza, the theaters are said to be dull, and there is twenty-three degrees of frost. He asks Tikhonov to write back in more detail and, if sending money, to route it by telegraph transfer through the Volkov brothers’ office on Nevsky, at his own expense. He closes saying he will see Tikhonov when he reaches Petersburg, where he will be staying with Suvorin since he does not have Tikhonov’s home address, and sends his regards to mutual acquaintances.